Ro·meala mo mhallacht!

(let-him-enjoy * my * curse)

Let him have the benefit of my curse!

The verb here, “melaid,” originally means “grinds (as grain), crushes, sharpens” in Old Irish. It later expands to include “consumes, eats” in its semantic range, and finally extends from that to mean “enjoys”. It is alive in this last sense in the common Scottish Gaelic expression of congratulation “Meal do naidheachd!” This literally means “Enjoy your news!”

This curse is quoted in Irische Texte iii 101 § 171.

Topics: Curses & Insults